Southend flying sites
Note: This map only shows the position of Southend-on-Sea within the UK. If anybody can kindly offer advice on the location of the sites listed below, this will be much appreciated.
SOUTHEND see PRIORY FARM MEADOW (1912)
SOUTHEND: Temporary aerodrome? (Possibly ROCHFORD?)
Operated by: Navarro Aviation Co
Period of operation: Summer season 1920 only?
NOTES: Joseph Navarro’s company operated four Avro 504Ks G-EADY, G-EAEA, G-EAEB and G-EAJP. It appears they did brisk business flying from Southend and a site in Whitstable across the Thames Esturary. Although I suggest they possibly flew from ROCHFORD it is equally likely they operated from a beach location to attract passengers of course, but were the aircraft kept and maintained on the beach?
I’ve said it elsewhere but I’ll say it again, for such a popular undertaking I’m amazed that so few accurate records exist concerning where these sort of joy-riding companies actually operated from. Hundreds and hundreds of short flights making such sites far busier than regional airports but their activities seem to have disappeared by and large. Don’t you find it strange? It also needs to be remembered that, in order to keep costs down, many of these operators in England at least avoided using licensed aerodromes.
SOUTHEND: Temporary aerodrome? (Possibly ROCHFORD?)
Pleasure flights: Aeroplane Services Co, Surrey Flying Services
Period of operation: Summer season 1929 only?
NOTES: It appears that both these operations were still using Avro 504Ks.
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